Graduate Profiles
Frances Darkins
Why I chose accountancy
I have always enjoyed working with numbers, so accountancy seemed a logical profession for me after university. I also liked the prospect of further study past university which the ACA offered me and will open up my futures career opportunities. The study is intellectually demanding although interesting and is corroborated by the work experience gained whilst on audit. This gives a good insight into the operations of wide-ranging types of businesses and how it stands within the industry as a whole.
Why I chose haysmacintyre
I chose haysmacintyre as the wide diversity of clients appealed to me, especially the charities and schools. Also, as haysmacintyre is a medium-sized firm, it has a very friendly atmosphere and everyone knows one another, which can allow you to develop further over the time of the training contract. The convenient location of our offices is an additional bonus!
Roles and responsibilities
I am an audit semi-senior and have been at haysmacintyre for over a year and a half. I have recently completed my professional stage exams and am about to return to college to commence studies for the advanced stage. My roles and responsibilities have been very wide-ranging, and I have now started taking more senior role on audits. I work amongst different teams each week, with anything up to four people working on a client. I have worked on a variety of challenging jobs; from large manufacturing companies to charities to schools and clubs.
As an auditor, we carry out in-depth investigations of a business in order to form an opinion on whether the company’s accounts are ‘true and fair’. This means identifying the major areas of risk inherent in the business, which calls for a high degree of judgment and an in-depth understanding of the client and its industry.
What skills do you need to make a success of what you do?
To be a successful auditor, you have to build strong relationships with the client and respond effectively to their needs. An equally important characteristic is the ability to work within a team, and becoming a good team leader as you advance through the qualification. You must also be able to manage your time effectively to ensure that tight deadlines are met, whilst still maintaining a good work/social balance and allocating time for studying.
What's the best piece of advice for people coming into this sector?
You need to be very determined to succeed, especially through the exams periods as they are challenging. You also need to have an analytical mind to be able interpret the figures that you are dealing with on daily basis. Having an open mind and eager to learn new things are other key pieces of advice to keep you motivated and succeed in your career.